Effects of Feeding Sites on Fecundity and longevity of the Palm aphid, Ceretaphis palmae Chesquiere (Homoptera: Pemphigidae) on Young Dwarf Coconuts
DOI:36108/NJE/9991/61.0180
ENOBAKHARE, D.A. and OMOGIATE, B.W.
ABSTRACT: The influence of feeding site preferences on-the fecundity and longevity of the palm aphid, Cerataphis palmae Ghesquiere on three dwarf coconut varieties: Malayan dwarf red (Mdr); Malayan dwarf green (Mdg); and Malayan-dwarf yellow (Mdy) was studied in a screenhouse using leaf clip on cages. Using Mdr, the fecundity of C. palmae was significantly highest on young’ basal leaflets followed by mature basal leaflets and young frond terminal leaflets. With the Mdg, mean number of nymphs produced on young basal leaflets and young frond terminal leaflets was significantly higher than on mature basal leaflets. Similarly, there was no significant difference in fecundity on young basal leaflets and frond terminal leaflets of Mdy variety. Fecundity on mature basal leaflets was however, lower than on both young basal and frond terminal leaflets. On the three varieties, longevity on young basal and frond terminal leaflets were significantly higher than on mature basal leaflets.